Tag: winter

A lot of people in southern Minnesota were disappointed with the few inches of snow we received on Monday. By early March, most everyone is ready to be done with winter! They are itching for warmer temperatures and clear roads. I admit the icy sidewalks and slippery parking lots quickly become tiresome.

But there’s nothing like snow in the woods to make us realize how truly beautiful the winter landscape is. I spent 2.5 hours hiking today at 7-Mile Park and I’m not kidding, I felt like I was out there for only 20 minutes. Temperatures were perfect, in the mid-20s. The exercise helped me stay warm but it was cool enough to keep the snow from melting and getting slushy. The fresh air did wonders for my state of mind.

On Saturday morning, I woke up to a gorgeous winter scene of hoarfrost. Most of my workouts are indoors, but I like to get outside on a long run once a week. This scenery made my run totally worth it.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Rockford, Illinois, and ended up running along the Rock River during a light, wet snow. The fresh coat of snow made for a beautiful landscape.

Here in southern Minnesota, we probably have a month left of winter, give or take a week. I’ll admit it will be nice to not have to put on layers of clothes plus hat, scarf, and mittens in order to go outside for a run. It will be nice to feel my fingers again, lol! But winter is so beautiful, and I will miss views like this. However, this is the land of four distinct seasons, so I won’t have to wait long for winter to come around again.

Balmy! Hey, it’s been below zero for a few days so a number above zero felt like a gift. I try to pick the best weather day of the week to head out to 7-Mile Park between Mankato and St. Peter.

Tuesday was windy but the park is fairly well-protected. At least in the summer — now without leaves on the trees, the wind does cut through the park. My face was a bit numb at the end.

But the peace and quiet and beauty are worth it. A deer and I locked gazes for a few paces. I did not get cold — I’ve run outside for many years and I can’t ever remember being cold. The right gear, combined with the heat generated by running, keeps me nice and toasty in any winter weather. I went out for short runs Sunday and Monday (Sunday was during a windchill warning) and I still stayed warm even then. I much prefer running in winter than running in the heat and humidity of summer.